Uploaded December 2019 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Even Elsa would envy this cold “trick”!
Reagents and equipment: beaker with a thin bottom, cork stand, water, crushed ice, ammonium nitrate, hot water.
Drip several drops of water onto a cork stand. Place a beaker on the wet area and add some crushed ice and ammonium nitrate. Mix thoroughly. After 5 minutes, you will notice that the cork stand has frozen to the base of the beaker.
When ammonium nitrate is added to ice, it lowers the ice’s melting point. At the same time, ammonium nitrate dissolves in water and absorbs heat, not only from the beaker but also from its surroundings. The water on the cork stand thus cools and freezes the beaker to the cork stand.
A similar experiment is included in the “Thermal effects” kit from the MEL Chemistry subscription.
Safety precautions: perform this experiment only under adult supervision.
Even Elsa would envy this cold “trick”!
Reagents and equipment: beaker with a thin bottom, cork stand, water, crushed ice, ammonium nitrate, hot water.
Drip several drops of water onto a cork stand. Place a beaker on the wet area and add some crushed ice and ammonium nitrate. Mix thoroughly. After 5 minutes, you will notice that the cork stand has frozen to the base of the beaker.
When ammonium nitrate is added to ice, it lowers the ice’s melting point. At the same time, ammonium nitrate dissolves in water and absorbs heat, not only from the beaker but also from its surroundings. The water on the cork stand thus cools and freezes the beaker to the cork stand.
A similar experiment is included in the “Thermal effects” kit from the MEL Chemistry subscription.
Safety precautions: perform this experiment only under adult supervision.
